Drink Champs - #Throwback Episode - w/ LL Cool J | (Ep.89)

Episode Date: May 13, 2026

N.O.R.E. & DJ EFN are the Drink Champs and we're taking it back to some of the most legendary moments in Drink Champs history. Classic interviews, unforgettable stories, and iconic guests who shaped the culture.In this classic throwback episode of Drink Champs, N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN chop it up with the legendary LL Cool J !Hip hop royalty steps into the building as LL Cool J joins the Champs for one of the most legendary episodes of Drink Champs. The Queens icon delivers classic stories, hard-earned wisdom, and unforgettable moments from a career that helped shape hip hop culture. From breaking down his historic battle with Canibus to addressing rumors surrounding Def Jam and sharing behind-the-scenes stories about Jamie Foxx, LL keeps it honest from start to finish.The conversation gets even deeper as LL reflects on his journey from Queens to global superstardom, while N.O.R.E. gives flowers to one of his biggest inspirations in rap. Fans also hear wild stories about home invasions, industry politics, and the meaning behind some of LL’s most iconic lyrics and records. With plenty of laughs, real talk, and legendary hip hop history, this episode captures why LL Cool J remains one of the greatest to ever touch the mic.Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering the G.O.A.T. for the first time, This episode is packed with classic Drink Champs energy and timeless gems from one of rap’s true pioneers.Make some noise for LL Cool J !!! 💐💐💐🏆🏆🏆-Originally published on July 31st, 2017*Listen and subscribe at https://www.drinkchamps.comFollow:Drink Champshttps://www.drinkchamps.comhttps://www.instagram.com/drinkchampshttps://www.twitter.com/drinkchampshttps://www.facebook.com/drinkchampsDJ EFNhttps://www.crazyhood.comhttps://www.instagram.com/whoscrazyhttps://www.twitter.com/djefnhttps://www.facebook.com/crazyhoodproductionsN.O.R.E.https://www.instagram.com/therealnoreagahttps://www.twitter.com/noreagaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Now, legendary shit. We have what I would like to call the king of hip hop. What I would like to call the king of alternate. What I mean by that is after your career. has been done, he's the person who put out the blueprint for what you're supposed to do after your rhymes. This motherfucker is the king of Queens. I'm saying it. I'm from Queens.

I feel like I have the authority. He's the king of Queens, the king of New York, the king of hip-hop. First artist ever signed to death jam records. which means that I might have not existed if it wasn't for this motherfucker a lot of people wouldn't have existed a lot of people wouldn't exist because even run DMC wasn't even on death jam

this is real shit and right now we got the godfather I might I might just call him the father a motherfucking Queens New York and everything else we got LL KooJ in the motherfucking building

makes a Appreciate that love. Elle, L, listen, can I call you Al? Of course. In my mind, I always call you Uncle L. In my mind, I don't know why. Like, even when you say with something to me, I'd be like, Uncle L, how are you doing? It's all love.

I got so much respect for you. Thank you, and not for you, man. And then you came to my hood, though. No question. Of course. You remember? You came to my hood. You know, it made me like, and then RundDMC came to, and Diggie Simmons came,

and then Diggie Simmons, he's smashing all the little girls in my hood now. But, um, he put a foul thought in his mind. He didn't want to even picture that. You got running, running around, putting that fire. But,

Al, we got... It's not his baby. I don't care what you say. It's not his baby. But, Elle, I got to,

I got to tell you how, how important you mean to Queens. Thank you, man. not only Queens because if you look at Queens you look at people like you Nas run DMC you got to look at the whole

spectrum of hip hop so if you say a person was a leader of Queens a person was actually the leader of a whole generation so now you have people like Drake you have people like Jaru you have people

all these people who actually they can't say they didn't pattern their style after you right how do you fellow about that? Well, you know, um,

you know, hip hop is, you know, hip hop is a complex thing, man. I mean, at the end of the day, like,

you know, you know, if you're a decent looking fellow, you got to damn that kill yourself to be accepted by dudes. You know what I mean?

By dudes? Yeah, pretty much starts there. But the bitch is fuck with you. I mean, look at pot. You know, he was handsome dude, but look what he had to do

in order for guys who accepted. You know? I mean, if I made one more chance, it would have called a love song. But from Biggie it was something else.

You know what I mean? That's crazy. So, you know, it's kind of like, you know, you got to have, it takes courage to do what you love and to do what you believe in, you know what I'm saying? And that was my thing. It wasn't a matter of, you know, I just wanted to have girls. You know what I mean? You know, most of my friends did too. I did too.

You know, so I figured I'd make some songs and try to get some. You know, I didn't realize that that was like, you know, because, you know, the thing with hip hop is that, you know, if you're not, if you're not hit if you're not spitting gun bars and talking about packs that goat title is going to be elusive for you because you know most of the time the voting members that's what they really you know the fellas really that's what they really want to and I too

you know what I'm saying but you know I just decided that I was going to do what I wanted to do I had the balls to just do what I wanted to do so you know I did hard records and love records and hard records and weird records and creative art see shit. Man, that battle records too. Do you think because I think that

L.L. perfected the hard record and then the crossover record after that. And then Biggie kind of took that style. And the reason why I want to ask you had you ever thought like that because of the flavor in your air was like they kind of

try to keep you closer. This is me as a fan. I have no facts. I mean, flavor in your ears. First of all, flavor in your ear is so crazy because so many people thought, he's shit. They thought it's on my trannies or some shit. You know what I mean? No, I never heard of the story, you know? Yeah, yeah, like, you know what I mean?

He's a shit. All these perps running around here, man. He's like, yeah, we never heard of this. You know, what are you talking about? No, me. I wasn't talking about that. Right. You know, with all love and respect to everybody.

You know, do what you want. I ain't beefing. You know what I'm saying? But, yeah, you know, look, man, whether it's big or Nause or, you know, the other guys, like, I respect all the artists for what they do, you know what I'm saying. And respect anybody who's original and does it from the heart, does it from the soul. Like, you know, I was listening to that Kendrick record, and when he had said, you know, he does it from the soul, you do it, you know, for you, it comes from the meds. Something that I'm paraphrasing I'm saying

I just love I love hip hop I love the culture You know I love everything about it But the thing was You know Also at the same time You know I was never going to be a slave

To the music business You did? So meaning that the first time That I went and sat down And said oh I'd like to get X amount As an advance to this album And somebody like They shoulders shook a little bit

Was this when you brought your radio And you brought your radio And you were like I can't remember my This is after that year When I brought the radio I took a hero. You know, I think a dog, man.

You know, we're going to be a hero. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But, you know, I soon we forget. You know what I'm right. So, you know, but I just, you know, look, man, I just like to do everything, you know. Right. I don't feel like you should limit yourself.

Right. You know, if you have the talent, if you have the talent to do many things, you shouldn't be afraid to do that because dreams don't have deadlines. And, you know, a lot of times, you know, in our culture, especially in the black community

and as young males, you know, we get boxed in to what... Marginalized. Well, no, not just marginalized by mainstream society, but boxed in in the sense that, you know, you feel like there's certain things

that you might have dreams but you don't think it's cool. You know what I'm saying? You might be in an adobe. You might be into something weird. You might be into something weird like knitting, like blankets and putting them over gates.

Like something. mad with you. You think because you're not a rapper or you're not a basketball player. You're not cool. And we got to take that out of those. We do that to ourselves with our music too. Right. Because we don't give ourselves freedom.

You know what I'm saying? Like we don't give ourselves the freedom to do what we want to do. We always feel like, you know, every time I make a song, I got to worry about what this particular set of friends thinks. Forget my imagination. But I might be imagining some other shit. It's not that I don't want to make records than my friends like. But what if I, what if I,

Think of something else. Why can't I do that? Right, why can't I do that? And so that's the thing that I kind of, I always acted on that impulse, you know? I never, you know, I never was, like, I just wouldn't listen to that. You know what I mean?

Like, I just do what I want to do. Because who do you love? Yo, but I got to get to this. I never, yo, I've been seeing you for 20 years. And I'll never ask you this question. What is pink cookies in the plastic bag? Getting crushed by building. Getting crushed by buildings.

I ain't gonna lie. I've been going with whatever any nigga said. I'll tell you, I'll tell you what they're like, let me know, we don't have an idea of what it means. It makes sense. No, no, no. I was on the phone with a girl, right? And, you know, I was at Marley's studio, and she was talking.

Molly Maulie Maulie. Let's make some looks for Molly. Molly, yeah. Yeah, and I, um, I had, uh, I had smelled some weed, but I didn't inhale, you know? and, you know, after I'd smelled the weed, you know, after smelling the weed, I laid on the couch, and I was talking to this girl, and she said, I was like, you know, yeah, yeah. She was like, what are you talking about? I said, baby, I don't know.

I'm thinking about pink cookies in a plastic bag getting crushed by buildings right now. And she said, what? What? And when she said, what? I was like, oh, shit, that's the song. I said, yo, Molly. I said, yo, Molly. Yo, let's get it.

So I went downstairs, you know what, me and Molly made the record. You know, I knew it. Let me say it so. It was so complicated that I knew the explanation was mad and simple. Yeah, yeah, it was mad simple. Yeah, yeah, it wasn't nothing.

I knew as an artist. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I ain't, yeah. Yeah, I'm not even, I ain't come here to lie and run for office. It was what it was, you know. And I had miniature satellites floating in closets, spying in pockets. I had a few of them. Right.

I got more of them. Jumping out of a football, jumping out of a helicopter into a football stadium filled with cotton candy and shit. All that's kind of shit. I'm going to tell you some crazy shit. I'm going to tell you one thing, Al. I know you don't know you taught me this. I know you don't know you taught me this.

But I was on the top 40 tour, right? And I only had seven dates on the top 40 tour. You had like 70, right? And I didn't ride on a private jet I was commercial Everybody else Was you, Fat Joe Puff Daddy, Jaru

This is that type But I got seven days So every date that I had with you Like you had your room And then you had your room for your people Right And I never disrupted you I never came in there

But there's one day I was like you can I speak to Elle And Elle was like, who is it? And they said no He said let that nigger in you And I felt like you were shadow boxing. I don't know. I did. I do that before the show.

Yeah, yeah. I do that. So you came in and I said, yo, Al, because you had gave out roses this night. You had gave out roses, right? So I said, Al. Like, I'm 18, 19 at the time. I'm so young. So I'm like, Elle, every girl in the crowd is for you.

Why are you not out there? And you know what she told me? You said, I rolled my wife. and I said, why? He said, because I never get in trouble. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And let me tell you something. To this day, I roll my wife.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I roll my wife. LL, for me. My damn it. LJ. You really don't, you know, why give the money back? You know what I mean? It's mine.

I'm not giving it back. Like, easy. Right, and you know what the crazy thing? as younger brothers come up to me and be like, yo, Nauri, why are you rolling with your wife? And I'd just be like, I'm going to use that now. Would you say? I don't want to give the money back. Why give the money back? But, you know, I, you know, I have moments Norrie in my life. You know, I've, you know, you know, you know, I'm, you know, I'm L. L now. Not, no. Don't look at me. You know, but I, you know, but at the same time,

yeah, we can't, yeah, you got a, you got easy, Tiger, you know, it's raw. It's rough out Some deep water out there, baby. I didn't know, though. When you told me that, I was like, Al's bugging. And then I had to actually live. And then when I lived, I said... So you thought he was bugging out when he told you that? Oh, no.

Of course. In my mind, I probably said, Of course. He's retarced. Like, in his face. And then years later, I was like... You got it. I understood.

That reminds me of a story. I was, you know, I won't say his name because I want to embarrass him. Nobody listens to us, Al. It's a rap dude, right? It's a rap dude. You know, back in the day, he came up to me. He said, he came up to me. Like, yo, Elle, yo, Elle, you know, let me hold something.

You know, let me hold something. And, you know, I tried to tell him about, um, he's like, yo, Elle, let me hold something. And I tried to tell him, you know, talk to him about stocks and bonds and shit like that. He was like, yo, Elle, man, he told him of some stuff. Let me hold something, man. Stocks and bonds and shit, man. So that reminds me of that, like, at a point, at some, you're not, you, you only can understand it when you're ready for it.

You did what I'm saying? I was not ready for it. And a lot of times, you know, and that's true with music, too. Because you can do music and put it out there and people just don't understand it and it flies over their head and they catch it later. You know what I'm saying? Sometimes that happens too.

Who ever seen L.L. perform before. Raise your hands, God damn it. There should be more people raising their fucking hands. Let me tell you some. At one point in the show, he takes over his shirt and he just gives every woman a flower. And they're super wet. You could just tell because

the heads are getting wet. Just like, damn, are you wet? That's the goal. And, yo, so I'm a kid. I'm 18, 19 years old. Chris Lighty's like, yo, you got to go. You got to follow LL. I'm like, all, cool.

And I'm doing it. They all on private planes. It's okay. I'm getting there. It's commercial. But it's okay. I'm still happy. And I'm like, Al, and Al, it's like, he knocked none of them down.

I couldn't believe it. At first I was like, kill. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you were so content. God ain't going to give you none you can't handle. I live like L. Do you improve my lifestyle? What am I?

The moral police? You are. You seven wives in there, homie. I ain't judge you, baby. The last dude that's ever going to judge you is me. No, I still need you to prove my lifestyle. Just say I approve. I approve.

I approve. You know what I'm going to say. No, HulJ and I put up this now. I live 10 years behind you. Yeah, yeah. Because you know my, I got Halloween in my closet, so I ain't funny. So now, Al. All type of bones and costumes.

Yeah. Type of bones, get away from that. Wrist bones, backbones, spines, spines hanging over the closet door, skulls. So, Al, I got to ask you this for, this is not for the podcast. This is not for anything. This is because I sincerely respect L.L. Kouche. I love L.L. Kudjee. I looked up to L.O. KuhuJ.

But you did kind of crush cannabis career early. And I never knew why. Like, me personally. You don't know why? No. I know the industry answer why. I mean, you know, the real... Did he disrespect you in the session?

What happened? Because you're a Queens, nigger, and I respect it. Whatever way it went. I'll tell you exactly what happened. You know, I mean, the real honest answer is that, you know, one day, you know, I was on my way to studio and it came up to me and, you know, and you know, my, you know, my, you know, my ego was a little taller than me. I'm not going to front. You crest his career.

No, my ego's a little taller than me, a little bit. So, you know, you know, he walked up and he was like, yo, Elle, you know, you're a tattoo, man, like your tattoo, I'm going to get one like that. I said, nah, homie, you know, you know, you got to get your own, you know. You know, I didn't understand that, like, mentally. Like, I just didn't understand that. Nah, man, you get your own joint. Like, I didn't really, no, I just didn't understand it.

Like, it was no disrespect. I was like, you got your own. You're like, nah, I'm getting one like that. And then, after we had that conversation, when I got, when I went in and heard his boss, he said, is that a mic on your arm? Let me bar that. And I just, like, was like,

I just did not understand. I just, yo, I couldn't understand it, homie. I just, I blicked. Okay. I blicked. And that was it. Take me room that. moment.

Is the truth that he already had, is the truth that you already had to reverse and then you changed it? Is that what people said? No, no. The truth is, I went in, I heard what he said, and I responded to the shit. That's the truth. On your record.

You didn't take him off your record. I was too ignorant for that. A smart guy, you know, Jay Z would have took him off the record, you know. I was smart. I was an idiot. I was like anybody ever did that. Ignorance.

Just ignoramus. I'm gonna tell you something. I'm gonna tell you something. At that time, I was running around, Death Jam. And Leo Coles said, and I went to the New York office for some reason. And he said, Nori, do you know what's going on? But I'm acting like I'm dumb. I'm like, no.

He said, L.L. is battling cannabis. But mind, he's that serious. So I'm just looking. Mind you, I know what's going on, but I'm like, what? Nah, he's like, yo. But then, yeah, yeah. But see, the thing is, what people don't know is that I, you know, after that, I saw him cannabis and-

After he crossed his career. Well, no, no, no. This is before the battle record. I saw him, and I said, yo, he was just debating about putting a song about me out. I said, yo, I went to him. I said, you know what? Okay, it happened on the record. I said, first of all, nobody's going to know if you don't make a record.

I said that's the first thing. I never knew. And then that's a very important part of the story. Yeah, I told him this. So you're saying before his reaction record came out, I met with him. I didn't never know that. I said, yo, I said, don't put no record out.

Nobody's going, no, just leave it. And, you know, I got a little high head. It's between us. I said, I don't know. If I don't put it out, it'll be politics. And I'm like, you know, and then White Clef's over in the corner, Aiden and the betting and shit.

Yeah, Wycleft fucked him up. You know what I mean? You fucked him up. You gasped him up to the wrong now. You know what I mean? We love you, Wyclef? No, no, I love Clay. It's all good.

But then he put the record out and then, you know, then the record, because I told him, I said, yo, let's just do a record together. You know what I mean? You said that? Yes. I said that to a person from my head. Yes, I said, we should have did a record. Let's just do a record together.

We can, you know, because I didn't really want the drama, but, you know, it is what it is, you know. Right. And then I, you know, I just responded and that was it. You know, and we did what we did. and, you know, you know. You know.

And you crushed his career. Let's make some noise for Al, L. crushing him. You're so hard. We ain't got to make the noise. Don't worry about it. We don't make noise for you. And don't forget

you know Moldi and him too. Welcome to my new podcast, learn the hard way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kyr Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month,

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Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey.

I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant this plant to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me. what you know. Is somebody coming after me?

Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness,

professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going. From the WMBA standout, Kate Martin and rising hockey star, Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain.

It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't belong. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs, Gabby Thomas, and Katie Ladeki. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win.

more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can, like, I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced game. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast, Superhuman, documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm going to KUMMO. But how did the KUMMO these shit started? How did that start? Because it seems like L.L. You might not start it, but you definitely finished.

Well, I said on a record, I said, I'm only 18 making more of your pops, and he felt offended by that. What? The morning 18. Making more than your pops. And he was offended because he thought it was the wrong message. Because he was making more of his pops. Well, no, no, he thought I was sending a bad message to young kids out there.

Like I was, you know, look, when I, coming up, when I was growing up, you know, 16, 17, 18, like 17, 18, 19. I was always with Rich Porter I was always with Alpo and A-Z and my man Big Chuck from Mount Vernon took me with them so that's who I used to be always hanging up with I would be on one three two and I was always uptown not

not Fat Cat even though he was from Queens I know Prine and I knew you know the Fittato brothers and all of them I knew I knew them but I was like a shorthy No no no No no I was a real jump dinner I was a shorty so when I like

when I knew the Fittados they was giving me Warm champagne like hey man you're begging for champagne You know what I mean But when I started hanging out with Chuck We got cold champagne. Yeah, I got cold. It's cold. All the champagne is caught now.

It's cold. It's cold. Yeah, I don't take it personal. You got to make sure. So, when I, you know, when I used to hang with, you know, with Alpo and when Chuck would take me around to hang with Alpo and Azee and Rich and all of them. And Black Just used to come a little later. Black Jess, call back. And, me, he rests in peace.

You know, I just came up, you know, in a different, you know, in a different, you know, thought process. You know what I'm saying? and I just tried to do things right, you know what I mean? That's all, basically. Did you know Bimmy was the biggest drug dealer in Queens when you was hanging with him at one point? I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Bim's my man, you know what I'm saying?

I hung with Bim, you know, the whole time. You know, I was, I saw Bim in some of his initial escapades. He got fracas. You don't know he's selling cocaine? But you know what the thing is about that? What people have to understand about that is that. First of all, we don't want to glorify that. No, we don't.

It's not cute. We do not. And it's a tough life. Tough life. And it destroys lives. And most of the guys that are really doing it for real wish they weren't. Okay? And the ones that are really successful at it, really wish they were successful at something else, anything else.

This is a horrible way to live. Okay. And we can front and act like it isn't, but it is. It's a very tough way to live, all right? Because I've seen it firsthand for real. And, but, you know, it taught me a lot, though. I learned a lot. You know, I forgot the point I was trying to make because I was...

No, because, you know, why are you? You know, I'm telling you the point that you're trying to make because at one point... Oh, Kumo Di. Okay. So basically, he thought that I was glorifying that lifestyle when I said 18 making more than a popular. So he wanted to, you know, be conscious about that. But what he didn't understand is that... That you're going to crush you.

No, that I'm an 18-year-old young man and I don't know anything else but this. You know, when you're growing up in the hood... I just said, Al going to crush him. Yeah, but when you're growing up in the hood and I see a car drive... buy, that's all I know. And I see a guy how he gets it. That's all I know. It's not about, I'm not even thinking about right and wrong and consequences and ruining my life.

And you don't even think on that level. That doesn't even come into your brain. The only thing you think is, I'm here and the money's there. And where do I got to go to get it? That's all you really think about. Now, when you're older, you get in your 30s, your late 20s and, you know, maybe even 40, you can start reflecting and kind of cleaning up your life. So I think he had the right intention,

but the problem was that he wasn't merciful in understanding that I was a young kid and this is all I was thinking. Now, on the MC level, you know, I've never shot away from trying to snap somebody's head off. No, I'm not going to lie. You know, I feel like you still want to battle right now. You know, the giant wirecutters?

You know, I feel like you still want to battle a nigga right now for a nigga fuck him. I felt like you was going to beat up Charlemagne recently. What happened? You know, my thing, no, no, no. My thing, my thing, my thing with homie is, you know, you know he he likes to get on the radio

on bully people you know what I'm saying I don't like bullies me neither you know what I'm saying I really don't like bullies and you know I understand he's a smart guy

I get that but the bully thing didn't work for me and I felt like he was picking on me and undermining my brand and my my vibe you know what I'm saying but I wasn't gonna go up there and do the baby thing I just told him look

I just told him listen where you go no let me just just I'm not going to go up there and do that. I love baby. That's my man, but I wasn't doing that. I'm not going to go to your show

and be on camera at your show talking shit with you and why you make money. We're not doing that. And by the way, that's the most viewed ever. I'm sure it is. And I'm sure you saw a lot of sponsorships.

But my thing was, look, you know, I said, look, let's just box of charity. You know, I give 100,000, you're going to beat people up, hell. No, but I was aggravated. You're going to get sued.

No, no, no, not for charity. Hell, you got to stop. boxing for charity. I'm not going to be honest with you. I'm going to be honest with you. Nobody won a box for, I didn't want to, you know, listen, I don't, I don't, but let me just say this. I don't want, I'm not, I have no problems with him. I wish them the best, just leave me alone and don't pick on me.

Just so you know, I don't pick on, I don't like to get picked on. You can't be everybody watching this pocket. No, I can't. You can be everybody in hip-hop. You can be, no, no, I don't get carried away. But there's some crazy ones. But everybody watching. Everybody watching this podcast, don't bully, don't be bullies, and don't pick on people. Because that was my only problem with him.

And you felt like he was picking on him. Yeah, because he's always got something to say. He doesn't understand. Like, I'll give you an example. Like, you know, everybody was mad at me. And I understand their point of view, but everybody was mad at me about, you know, the whole accidental racist record. You know what I'm saying?

And that was a big conversation. Right. And they thought, you know, oh, L's, you know, Aiden and the Betting us for getting slavery. You got to listen to your verse. Your verse, when you're saying the change. Yeah. But what they didn't understand is that, you know, now fast forward and look at the shape the country's in. And you think about what me and him was attempting to do.

It was ideological. But look at where to shape the country's in now. You dig? People at that point thought that I was out of my mind for comparing a du rag to a Confederate flag. But now you're seeing little brothers get shot down every day because of the outfits, whether it's a hoodie. It may not be a du rag, but maybe it's a hoodie with Trayvon. Maybe it's some sagging jeans. Maybe it's a brother outside of an SUV getting shot down.

That's the thing I was talking about. I was trying to humanize us. I would never suggest that we forget our history. That's absurd. Of course. It's ludicrous. But you got to be willing to, like, I give you another example. Like, people was mad at me when I said, oh, RIP, Robert Lee.

Oh, I hate that. How can he say that? Robert Lee. Robert Lee. They hated me. He was a general in the Confederate Army. Yeah, I understand how people feel. But when that racist dude ran up in that church and he shot up all of those people

in that black church down south. Yeah, yeah. And then those black people got together and said, you know what? You know, we're praying for them and we forgive them and we want to send love to them. The country held them in high esteem because they were able to get beyond their emotions and see the bigger picture. And that's what I was trying to show people. You know what I'm saying? But it took four years and all of these people dying by the hands of corrupt police because not all police are corrupt.

You know what I mean? But dying by the hands of some of these corrupt policemen and dying at the hands in the wrong way for people to understand that. What I was saying and what me and Brad were attempting to do was very real. You know what I'm saying? But that's why that whole they laugh at you, then they ignore you, then they fight you, then you win. It's true because they laughed at us then. S&M, and now everybody was laughing at us, you know. But then when you're real, and then they ignore this.

But now look at what's going on. Now they're trying to fight that same, they're trying to promote those same vibes, those same values that we talked about. So, you know, that's about the courage. That's about art. You know, that's what art does. It provokes people. You know what I'm saying? I just want to say to you, if you don't know how much you appreciate it in the hip hop.

No, but I appreciate hip hop. No, but listen, let me just tell you something. If it wasn't for Al Koojay, there wouldn't be a Nause. It wasn't for a Nause. It wasn't for a Nauseeat. It wasn't for a mob deep. There wouldn't be a component in Noriega. So me personally, I want to look at you face-to-face eye-to-eye, man-to-man, and tell you how much.

That not only Queens, because we're not. not Queens, it's limited. Even though Queens, we won the world. Y'all can make noise for that. Yeah, your man is from Queens. Even though we're from Queens, we won the world. Trump is from Queens. That's pretty funny. I did hear that.

Yes. I did hear that. Are you kidding? I had a condo around the corner from his house. I was making a rich for 20 years. God damn it. They had a condo around Trump, God damn it. I'm not going to lie.

I was this close to buy in a condo. Next in his building because it was cost effective Corse effective? You're up for Noriega being in this Yeah, the most of the Trump joint Woohoo I do that That's my job

Yeah, but you came one day I'm shooting a blood money video Yeah The most disrespectful record on my album And I call for L L L. Koo-J to come through and L.L. Koo-J comes through my motherfucking hood. Well, first of all of your

music. No, no, no, I always loved your music. I always felt your music. You know what? Thank you. What, all of that? You know, I mean, you introduce the world to the Neptunes and all that. I mean, you put You can make some noise for that. You put Farrell on the mat. I met Farrell because of you.

I came to your session and met Farrell. Wow. And that's when I did Love You Better. I ended up ultimately doing Love You Better and All the Americas. But, you know, you've done A lot. You know, you're an important person. Thank you, Al. That's why the podcast is so successful.

I've been watching it. I've been watching episodes in the joints and Lelries. And you got to deal with CBS, and me and EFN, we got some deals that bring you. I got you covered. I got a lot of stuff. Yeah, yeah. I got some things.

And the lip sync battle. Yeah. Was that your idea or was that with somebody else? Well, the idea came from John Crosinski and Steve Merchant, and they brought it, you know, through Jimmy. They sound rich. I don't know who they are, but they sound rich. They're rich now.

It came to us and basically, you know, but I own the format along with my partners. And we've sold a format in over 150 countries around the world. And we have like a partnership with like Carnival Cruises. And, you know, the app is starting to grow now and really doing well, the lip sync battle app. And I mean, the show, and we've also, we have different versions of the show around the world. So like in Thailand, there's like a, you know, it would be a Thai host doing their lip sync battle. And we just did like Diels in Ukraine

and we did a deal in Russia and we did a deal you know in China we just did a big deal in China for lipsing battle so that thing is global and then you know what people don't know is with like NCISLA

I also have a vested interest in the show I'm not just an act on the show I have an actual piece with Sam Hanna with the shirts and you're shooting people and I'm shooting terrorists and that's in 200 countries around the world as well

you know what I'm saying so it's you know it's really going on well Listen, I'm not gonna lie. When I looked at hip hop, right, I was tired of hip hop. I was just tired. Like, I mean, I loved it. I still wanted to make it.

I couldn't, God bless the death, after Chris Lighty died, I couldn't actually attack it the way I wanted to attack it. So I said, fuck it, let me just think of something else. Right. And all I did was look at you. I looked at you and said, what the fuck is Al doing? And Al, because you're in shape. I'm not, I wasn't in shape back then.

I'm not in your shit. You're good now. I'm a little, I'm a little okay. You look like, you know, you're doing handstand or something. Like, you got something popping. I mean watching, I'm watching your Instagram. But. I be watching your Instagram.

You're getting fired. Killing me. But I sat back and I said, what? cannot do to do something else other than the hip-hop because music just gets boring. Even if you're making money, music is just boring after a while. No, but you know what, no, let me tell you something, man. I don't feel that way. I think my thing is I just never limit myself.

Like I said, if you have more than one talent, you should utilize them all. You know what I'm saying? If you're a Dionne Sanders and you can play baseball and football, play both. Play both. You know, music is not off the table for me, you know? I'm not telling you that I'll never make another record. It's just right now. Because you're going to make another record.

Well, right now my priority is TV because... On Thumbed-Dowel of Entertainment. Oh, wow. We're telling you an... Great business move. Great move. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

That was... No, it's beautiful. So, you know, I'm not saying it's off the entertainment. But, you know, you got to try different things. You got to, you know, you got to move. You got to, you know what I'm saying? Like, make things happen and not be like... afraid to like fall back for a second.

Like I'm not afraid. Like I don't feel like, you know, if I make a song, it'll be like I never left. As soon as the, after the record go off. Because N2D. Yeah. This movie. Oh, yeah, that was, yeah, that was.

You stuck a pole stick up a nigga ass. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Eight ball, back pocket. I didn't know. You actually took the eight ball to it? I just took it stick. I'm sorry, yeah. I didn't know you put up a pool.

No, no, no. You went, you went there. Yeah, but, you know. Don't worry, Al. Don't worry, don't worry. The videos, you know, the movies and stuff. Uncle Al, sorry. Yeah, no, it's all up. I'm like Jeff.

I'm going to go out. When it comes to the movies, I don't limit myself with the characters. Whatever role it is, you know, I'm not above any role or below any role. It's, if I respond to the role and I feel like it's something good, I'll do it. Right now, I'm playing Sam Hanno and NCIS Los Angeles. This is a lot of fun. We're going into our night. night season.

I'll be seeing like this. You put out your gun very professional now. Oh, but let me tell you why. I can tell you what you learned. You know, I went down. She'd be like that. Nah, he's talking about getting him with them. Freeze, you know what?

Freeze, you know. All that. Daddy and Farms is moving on at all. You know what? Yeah, yeah. Now, I went down to, like, Camp Pendleton and, um, train with, like, the Marines and the Special Ops guys, the sailors down there.

Um, you know, hung out with a master gunnery sergeant from the Marines who told me, I went to SWAT school, you know, and did a lot of tactical training. You stuck the nigga in his ass. Yeah, hit him in his. What is the next question? Do you eat that?

No, he stuck it. He stuck the nigga in his ass. Well, yeah. That shit fucked me up in real life, you. Yeah, fucked him up too. And I knew you. But when I think that, I was like, oh my God. I was like, oh, my God.

And he was like, oh. Yeah, yeah. Oh, I felt. How's a brutal scene. If you haven't seen it too deep, go check it out. It's a brutal scene. It's a brutal scene. Yeah, but going back to music real quick,

you're one of the first New York artists to kind of be bicostal when you worked with Poo, L.A. Posse, and all of them. How did that come about? Basically, what happened was, you know, at that time, you know, after my first album, Rick Rubin left Def Jam. And we were trying to figure out what my next move was going to be because he produced my first album. The whole first album.

Yeah, yeah. We did the whole first album together. It was his first album, too. Wow. And so after that... No, no, no. He can't just say that. Let's make some noise for that.

Yeah, yeah. So after that... Hey, yo, with all cameras, you've got to start clamming, too. Clapping, too. I understand. Climbing. Harkening.

But listen, revolt cameras, you got to clap, too. I'm sorry. You too, tattoo, guy. All right, let's go. Terrible, terrible. I'm sorry. So, nah, so, you know,

you know I went and Russell had heard you know to L.A. Posse because they had made some records that he felt was in the zone so he introduced me to him I met Bobcat Big up to Bob

You know, Marla from L.A., L.A., West Coast. You know, L.A., all over the West Coast. But your first record wasn't the radio? Who, mine? My first album was radio.

My first song was I need a beat. My first song came out in 1984. It was I need a beat. Then I had... I was born in 77. Yeah, well, you know what I mean? Thank you for giving my childhood.

Yeah, Thank you for giving my childhood. Then the second one came out like 85. The album came out like 85. And then it went from there. But the second album came out around 87. But the first album was on Def Jam. It was on Def Jam, yes.

Because Steel and Rock, It's Yours, was on Def Jam productions. It was an imprint on Street on Party Time. It was Party Time records. It was Def Jam productions. And Rick was having problems. Him and Russell were having problems getting the money from Party Time for the Is Yours record. So they decided to start their own label. And I was the flagship.

and we made the first album. And I actually, you know, a little side note, I owned a piece of Def Jam as well. And I sold it. Yeah, yeah, I sold it back to them. What we say? You sold it back.

I'll be a rich. No, yeah, yeah. You didn't know that. Yeah, yeah. But the first record was. Radio. Radio. Rock the bells, radio.

All of that was on first record. Can't live without my radio. Yeah, and they went and got to deal with a... Rock the bells. It wasn't got to deal with... No, no, no, CBS. CBS. Yeah, Columbia.

Columbia. Columbia. We got CBS right here in the building. Cheers. CBS did, yeah. You know, Queens' niggas get money with CBS. Oh, yeah, I mean. It certainly appears, so.

You'll pour me a drink, I'm out. I don't know how to pull me a drink, man. You remember Scarborough? There's an answer to that, too, Tony. They... They... Yo, Elle, this is what I want you to describe back in the days because it was so rough walking down Jamaica ab.

Oh, God. I mean, listen, people think it's rough walking the Jamaica ab in 2017. Crazy. And they have no idea what it was in the 80s and the 90s. Can you describe it? It was like any piece of clothing that you had on that was mildly, mildly or remotely valuable was like asking people to rock. Like if you had a pair of gazelles or you won't buy somebody your gazelles were saying to them

Excuse me could you take it? It was like the gazelles were talking if you had a sheepskin They'd be like hey I'm a sheepskin come on you get me Rob hey take me on here please he's not cool enough to help me on come on get me please It was crazy You was crazy and listen crazy I want to describe to people Listen let me describe to people because one day Nause has told me he said one day and I was just kicking it, be talking, and now I said, and he came to Lefrake, and he was like, he came to the left rack, he was like, I can't believe the amount of respect that nobody don't bother you here.

And I was like, this is my hood. And he said, do you imagine what Al went through in those days? Mind you, we had no facts. But remember, remember, I, you know, I was hanging with, you know, the guys I was hanging with, you know, I wasn't really having a lot of problems. Like, you know, like you hear these weird rumors. Oh, LL got thrown through a Coliseo wound up. I never heard of that room.

Right. I'm going to quees. I'm going to quees for real. Listen, listen. Oh, yeah. You know, you know, what I was going to say? I was, I was with guys that was so official and thorough in the street that, you know, I mean, I wasn't having those issues. No, no, I know.

And I wasn't looking for him either because, you know what I've learned? I never, I never in my life have tried to be. be a tough guy. And I never hung around gangsters and tried to act like I was one. Because that's how you get yourself in trouble. Just be who you are. Just be yourself. You know what I mean? And so I never had a lot of issues. I had a few fights. You know, I grew up fighting. You know, I wasn't, you know, have a shootout. We could tell you. The way you shut cannabis down, we knew you could fight. You know, a couple of people, you know. I had a couple of done moments.

I tell you a funny story when I was a little kid. Just a little mischief. So when I was a little kid, you know, when there was snow outside, we decided it was a good idea, you know. To take, like, no, no, no. To take rocks and cinder blocks and cover them with snow and then throw them at cars. Like, don't ask me why we thought this was a good idea, right? So the glasses are great. You know what the case. So one day, so one day I'm in my grandmother's yard and I throw a goddamn big-ass rock with snow around it.

Because, you know, the car's not going to stop. They say, oh, look at the little kids with snowballs. And it was like, gush, right? So we was in there, my man came around the corner. And I was looking over there, and I seen the window roll down like that. All I seen was little flashing lights.

Y'all was running. I hit behind a snow mound. Right. Did you hear me? A snow mound. A snow mound. Bullets were flying on through the joint, I looked about snow mound.

And then I like ran and fell down in a basement. Oh, because holy was you were in the air. Yes, he was shooting out. The flashing lights was the gun going on. You know what I mean? Flashing lights, Kanye lights. They're busted. You know, the lights, lights.

And I'm like, red. And you know how to, in Queens, the basement windows got that, that, I don't know what you call about. Oh, we know. It's like a, you know, it's like a thing down on the house so you can open the basement windows. So I fell down there tore my ankles up and all that. So I had a little mischief in my house.

life a little bit, but for the most part, I stayed out of trouble. You know what I mean? No? And I'm sorry to bring this up, but I have to bring it up. We all was managed by violated management. We all was under the two religious. I don't know if that's a word, but you know what I mean. Yeah, it is. Of Chris Lighty. Right. I asked 50 cent this. I asked all violated artists when they come on here. Like, how did it, because it still affected me. Well, first of all, I love Chris deeply. And his daughter Tiffany is a good, dear friend of my kids. Love him.

And she's at the house all the time. Love it. And, you know, she hangs with my wife and hangs with the kids and all that. First of all, Chris and my relationship was a little different from probably yours in 50s because Chris got in the business after me. So we had a different. You was already in the business. Yeah, I was already. So, you know, we had a different type of relationship, you know.

And, you know, we were friends. Right. And we were, you know, I looked at, you know, we looked at each of. other as counterparts. And he managed me. He did. He made a lot of things for me. But our relationship, you know, was, um, what you think? Hi. What you think? Let's get X. Let's get Y. Like, I remember when he was intern in a deaf jam and stuff like that. But the thing I remember most about Chris is that he was a really, really, really, really small guy. And he was a good dude. Right. And he wasn't soft. Like, I remember Chris used to let me in the tunnel. When he was a bodyguard at the tunnel, Chris used to do a

I never heard of this story. Yeah, Chris used to do security at the tunnel. Let's get us. And he'd be outside with his bulletproof vessel. I heard he was running the tunnel. I'd never heard of security. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. He was, no, he was, you know,

he may have been involved in the business aspects too, but when I seen Chris, he had a bulletproof vessel on outside the front door like, yo. And I never heard your turrets. He was like, Mr. Smet. Mr. Smet, come on in. Yo, he's like the good fellow, you know. He was a gangster.

You know, Chris was. It was a real guy. I'm glad I met him later. Yo, I'm telling you. But I mean, all of the people, you know, like, I'll tell you, just to switch gears for a minute. Like Leor, the first time I met Leor, Leorleor was a promoter in L.A. And when I met him, he came to pick me up from the airport because I had a show. When he was a promoter.

A promoter. When you say L.A. You're not saying. Yeah, Los Angeles. Not Marlton. Like, yeah, yeah, yeah. Los Angeles. He knew where I was going.

And the driver's door didn't open. I mean, the passenger door didn't open. You had to get in the car through the driver's side, both of us. And we drove, and he was telling me how we're going to change hip hop. And let me tell you something. He was prophetic, though, because everything he talked about came true. But he was very much, you know, I mean, this was a guy that was walking around with, you know, no laces in the sneakers, you know, behind, chasing behind Jamester Jay with a joint in his mouth. You know what I'm saying?

We're all run DMC. Like he was a real, like, he wasn't this, the corporate titan that he ultimately became. But I always had respect for him because Leo is the one who made the deal. See, I own my whole catalog. You still? You owned it from the beginning? I owned my cat. No, I didn't.

But I owned it ultimately with my deal, you know, when I got to a certain position with Def Jam, I did a deal where I owned my catalog. Right? Leo is the one that did that deal. Wow. So I have to always respect Leo for that because, you know, he didn't have to do it. They were trying to figure out how to make a deal that was rich enough for me to want to day. And, you know, at the same time, they wanted to come up to a certain number but not go beyond that. So, you know, I said, well, you know, give the catalog. And they said, okay, we worked that out.

We got the catalog. So Def Jam has a really small interest in my catalog. I own I own I own it. And so when you hear LL Cool Jace song, so Mama say knock you out. All right. The whole cat. When you hear LL. You own Mama say knock you off. Callie. Mama said, I need love. All right. Mama say knock you. Yeah, yeah. Mama said, yeah, all that. Hell on that. You know, so when you hear my records and movies and on TV and stuff, I've licensed that.

You know? Anytime you hear L.L. Poojay song, L.L. has licensed it. Okay, that's another goal I'm going to take after you. Yeah. I took the white shit. It worked out for you. No, but let me tell you something.

Let me be transparent. The reason I'm sharing this is because I don't think the hip-hop community understands a lot of the things that, you know, I've been doing in my career. I think that it's been kind of a mystery and I never was a guy that like asked my publicist to get me in Forbes. I've never been the guy who really went out of his way to try to

market myself as smart. I just never did that because I came from more of a pure place and just wanting to rock the mic. You know, and it was never... Like, I'll give you another thing. Like, there was this whole rumor back in the days that, oh,

L.L. Cool Jay, you know, he's upset because he didn't become the president of Def Jam, which is... I was going in. Can I just say something? Like, I can't even describe to you how ultimately and utterly ridiculous that is. And let me explain to you why. Why would, look, I'm, I'm.

I wanted you to be the president of Motown? Like, I didn't confront. I don't relate to Michael. I didn't. I don't know. I wanted to be the president. I never wanted that. I wanted to make music.

See, people. But I wanted to get a budget from you. I wanted to. I know you were clear. I know. I know. I know. I know you're clear.

I know. It's a beautiful thing. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe, maybe. The thing is, I just always, I just wanted to be an artist, Norrie. Like, I'm not ashamed of being a rapper.

Like, I don't need to, I don't need to convince you that I'm more than a rapper. Like, I'm okay with that. So, because that's all I want to do is be a rapper and be the best rapper. Like, that's what I grew up wanting to do. So let me ask you something, right? As a rapper. Right. When you hear stories like Little Wayne, where Little Wayne is getting,

maybe taking advantage of you. We don't really know. Yeah. We already know what we see. There's nothing, you know what? Let me tell you something. There's nothing that Little Wayne did wrong. And I'll tell you why.

I'll tell you why. Because, like, I told you I own my catalog, and I tell you that ultimately I got a great deal. But you know what? If Russell was the worst person in the world, he could have easily taken advantage of me. He could have easily gave me one of those bozo deals that you hear nightmares about.

But you know what? Russell wasn't that kind of guy. You know what I'm saying? I mean, you know, early on, we did my publishing 50-50. Ultimately, I got all my publishing back, of course. But early on it was like that. But even then, with my first contract, he only went 50-50. He didn't take it all.

So a lot of that, a lot of times when you hear about guys with bad deals, that says more about the executives that they were dealing with than the actual artists. It's not about them being dumb. It's not about them being dumb. Because you know what? Some guys, I give them credit. Like some of the guys, you know, like I told you.

you, I hung around a lot of street guys, but I wasn't, that's not who I was, right? I wasn't a hustler personally. Those were just my friends. So some guys who are actually hustlers and actually had that life, they get to benefit from all the experiences that they had hustling. So when they come into the game, they're able to make better deals earlier. But some of us, because we weren't hustlers and because we didn't experience, you know, getting cheated and screwed and scammed, we were just innocent kids rapping. We may have been from a rough community, but we were really just innocent kids

who loved rhyming. So when you go in and you sign your deal, it's not the greatest deal in the world because you're just excited to be there. Then you don't have that maturity and that grit and that, you know, that grizzle that allows you to, you know, make a better deal early. So some of these guys did benefit.

There were benefits for some of them. Some benefited, some didn't. But I don't blame any of these younger artists. You know, now what I would say is that now with the internet, Because the internet wasn't what it was now. Even the play in the NFL? Well, there's access to information.

You have information out there. So you got to want the information. You got to want to make a great deal. Do you want to make a great deal? Are you patient? Do you have the balls to say no? Are you comfortable saying no? That was the crazy thing is when Deaf Jam, we got their self together,

I asked them, like, are you bringing back LL? And they never answered my question. Well, they, but, but, you know, to be fair to the... Because your death jam is Lear, Kevin Loud, I understand. Russell Simmons. I'm asking. No, what it is is that, you know, look, I, you know, when you're young and you don't

know how to play the political game, you can rub people the wrong way. Now, you're, like, you know, the deaf jam child. You didn't rub nobody the wrong way. No, no, no, but you can't, like, what I'm saying basically is that, man, like, you know, nobody's perfect, man, I don't, I don't, I. You know, I don't begrudge those guys nothing because, you know, the resistance that I, you know, you know, pressure makes diamonds, man. You know, it can bust pipes, but it makes diamonds.

So the resistance that I felt and the little things that they did just encourage me to go out there and do something greater. You know what I'm saying? Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark.

Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross.

Because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different. intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person.

Join me, Keer Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search, learn the hard way, and listen now. Jacob Kingston grew up

in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant, this went to a billion-dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive?

The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the Aihar Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness.

athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going from the WNBA standout Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel long. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladeke. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile.

that means the world to me, and that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports.

Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Oh, now, if I drink another bottle of Rose, you know, we might fly to Vegas. We bring you back to Queens. We're doing it to God-dame dream champs and business. Listen, Al, Al, I'm going to be honest, Al. Yo, I have never been a man more than I was the man when I had you come to my hood.

Now, I had you, listen, this day, I had Cameron come to my hood, I had Jim Jones come to my hood, I had run DMC come to my hood, I had everybody come to my hood. but the one thing that everybody said was like we're not going inside Elle was the only person said I'm going inside and I'm looking at you like you sure you don't remember that joke you said you said I'm with you I'm good I love my people I ain't we ain't afraid about people but Al I still feel like you don't feel like you don't really realize no no no let me give you a props please I have to do it

I still don't feel like you realize how much that you meant to people in Queens. Now, Iiffin, it's my partner. He's from Miami. He's born in L.A. He might have a whole totally different thing. But for us in Queens, there was no other nigger that we wanted to be. I mean, Nas. I mean, I remember one time, me and Fadjo, we had an hour and a half conversation.

Or who means more to him? Al-al to him or to me? Oh, man, that's beautiful. I feel like we're gonna fight. That's beautiful, man. That's the first time I feel like me and Fat Joe's gonna fight. I said Fat Joe, you can't claim Al. You're from the Bronx.

You gotta have laughs. You gotta stop. I love Joe, man. He's like, and Fat Joe was like, what? I love Al. I'm like, my default, you don't love him as much as I love him. My default.

And he just didn't, like, I'm talking about we seriously arguing. I thought of this argument happened six times. argument happened six times. That's crazy. It's a blessing, man. I love it, man. But that's how real hip-hop. This is what Drink Champs is about.

I don't know if you know, Al. Drink Champs is about giving the stars flowers when they can smell them and giving them trees when they can inhale them. Yeah, yeah. Because every other genre, every other music, when these people become icons or classics, they support them. Why doesn't hip-hop? have that platform.

Well, you know, L. Hip hop does have this platform. We are doing it, God damn. You do it. You do it. Don't you get smart on me. You're going to get smart on me. Don't do that.

We're your drink at, Al. And, you know, listen, L. Cool J came to left rack city, and I'm going to be honest. I was so embarrassed. Because I was like, I was like, yo, you know, when you need walk through, you walk through, I was like, I hope a crack head didn't pee.

And it was mad. It was mad. I'm looking at L, I'm like, this nigger's going to leave. And L, no, L said, what? He didn't smell the bee, he didn't see the bee. What's that? What's that? What's that? I don't know, oh no, I don't know. But not only that, L, you not only filmed the video.

You actually came and chilled in Capone's van. Fantastic. And we started watching videos. I remember. And you actually, like, people got to really understand how cool. Because, you know why? We put you on a pedestal in Queens, and we should. You deserve that pedestal.

And you should stay in that pedestal. But at the same time, people should understand how cool you are, how down the earth you are, how you'll shake anybody in. You know what, man, even no matter what I'm doing in my life, you know, I always tell people, you know, I'm in Hollywood, but I never went Hollywood. You know what I'm saying? And, you know... Keep talking. I got to say peepee. Oh, okay.

I'm like, what happened? You know? Good luck, Jake. Oh, you're going there. Phil, take the cameras while he's taking the peepee. Yeah, I'll talk to effing. So, you know, that was the thing. You know, this is a funny moment right here.

He's got, I got, I'm a pee. But you know, that was a thing, you know? That was a thing for me. You know what I'm saying? Whatever happened to cut creator, man? See, I'm going to take the DJ opportunity here. Yeah, no, no, Jay. Jay Phil Potter's my man, you know what I'm saying?

I just felt like creatively I wanted to stretch a little bit and try some new things. But he's always my friend, he's still my friend, we speak. And he does like Tom Joyner, he does different crews, he does different parties, you know what I'm saying? So he's still working. Yeah, yeah, he's still working, you know, but I've been using Z-Trip.

You know what I mean? Z-Trip have been, you know, DJ Z-Trip has been DJing for me for, damn, um. Fishing the toilet flush. Oh man, man, man, that was crazy. That reminds me to five heartbeats and some shit. Toilet flushing and all that. Yeah, you kicked the crew out.

Oh, you kept them in there. Kick the niggas out. But now, he's good. I've been working with Z-Trip for about almost 10 years now. Yeah, yeah, that's my man. You know what I'm saying? So that's been like a vibe. Listen, I'm going to be honest.

When you walk through my hood. This guy went to peeping and come right back on it like that. No, this is what he's cool. That's how I happens. But I'm not gonna lie. I wish my nephew was here. He's here, he's there, he's there. He's here.

You gotta relax. I was talking about you in theory. That's my nephew, that's my nephew. He's a young homie in the video. I was talking about you in theory. I didn't know he was here. But it meant so much to our hood. It meant so much to our neighborhood

when you came out because, We've been to farmers. We understand what farmers is, the red black and green rock. Yeah. How crazy Farmers Boulevard is. Like, from back then. Like, see, a lot of people who don't, like, farmers is almost gentified now. Almost.

A little bit. Nah. Nah. Nah. You got a whole fools. You got a whole fool's. Listen. You don't got a whole fools?

Nah, they still got the, you know, nah, hell no. You don't got a whole fools? They might have a whole fools over there, but it ain't. It ain't gentrified. Nah. Once you got a whole foods, you gentify. I don't think it's a whole foods over there. I feel like they got organic place.

You're got a juice ball. Once you got a juice bar, it's over. Now, if Jamaica's is running it. That was Joe, that joy is. That's Joe, I got all in Jamaica. I got all my homies, Jemakers in there. They're like, yo, they're juices and fruits and juices. That's a dread spot.

It's an entire movement and shit. Now, Queens ain't, no, farmers ain't gentrified. But, you know, it's a beautiful community. It may not. People may not have a lot of money, but they got a lot of dignity. and they want to, you know, they want to make something better

for their families and they want to have a life, you know what I'm saying? And you got a melting pot of people, you got Haitians, you got Jamaicans, you got Dominicans, you got, you know,

people, you know, from all different, you know, just like all in that community. It's a beautiful, I think it's a beautiful place, you know what I'm saying? Well, my friend, Steph, staff is from farmers, right?

Okay. Can we ask him if there's a whole food? Because I'm really not sure. No, he's crazy. He's taking meds. I can't even talk to him. But I love him. I went too far

I'm gonna Google the stuff I went too far Nah I feel like My people's like Oh my God Why are you going there But

Step is from Farmers Boulevard So I used to go to Farmers Boulevard I used to sit on the rock The Red Black and Greenwood I used to sit on it As a chap Oh that's crazy As a chat

But this Then you came out And I was like Oh my God Could I got killed Yeah that area Yeah that area is you know That area has been some

It's definitely It's like all the Any other birds I'm point another drink No no no Oh, bro. Listen, listen. This is what we do here.

You know what I'm doing here? You know this puff dad and this fuck-d-up, you look at it. You want one shot? Top of the morning, until you're not. No, good, I'm good. 50 took five shots with us. Listen, I would, I would care 50 took 90. He took more than that, did he?

How many shots did he actually take one? Five. Five. Okay, he took five. Can I'll take one? 50 took five shots. That shit is crazy. 50 seven was at the bar

How many shots did he take? I didn't put Thank you, Al. I didn't put two and two together the way you want this again. Biggie you off 50. No, big up to 50. That's my man, that's my man.

But Al don't drink, though. I don't drink like that. Nah, I drink occasionally, but no, I don't drink like that. Occasion is what? Like drink champs, I'm at a podcast called Drink Champs. How can I sit here and drink? I'm going to sit here and drink.

I'm going to salute to that. All right. You know what I'm going to? You need some more champagne. You're going to take a shot. I'm good. I'm good. We had the peer press and talk already.

Paulus. Paulus. I'm good. You all have to drink some of the house. We had Keras here. We had, uh, who else? Keras had a million mites. No, Karras had a million mites.

I can't lie. Cannabis had a million. No, Karras one. Oh, Karris one. And mad myel. Let's go back to cannabis because I just want you to, I just want you to understand how you destroy the mask. career. But it was dope.

I mean, but he can't eat no more. I brought him out at the Barclay Center when I did the concert in Brooklyn. Yeah, but he's already broke. No, but I brought him out and put my arm around him and brought him out there. I did. I said I did. I feel like it was too late. You crushed him.

Too late. Too late, baby. But in your mind, in your mind, you said, I got to crush this little name. But why did you do that? Because, you know why? I was defending myself. Because he was, he was, he was like computer literate at this time. When nobody else, he was the only nigger writing rhymes on a computer. And I had a session with him and I said, what is he doing? He wrote a rhyme on a computer.

I didn't like it. We personally, but you, you acted on that. Yeah, you acted on it. You ain't like it in this? I don't know. For being paid. High five for being paid. Let's make some noise to be in bed.

Al. Al, L's trust. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I got some petty pills. I'll take a petty pill every now and then. You take a petty pill every now and then? I take a petty pill every day. Not every day. I don't take it every day.

I don't take it every day. I try to do my, you know, they go high. They go low, I go high thing every now. I'm going to see Claudia in the petty bills. Yeah, yeah, the petty pills. Just in case. I was definitely a little egoed out with that one. I'm going to go.

This is how I'm going to go out to Claudine? Behind my net. No, I wish, I wish home me the best, though. You know, I don't want to see anybody have a misstep in a career. This is what I'm saying? Because, you know, some people, they don't understand that when you crush a person in career, like, you actually crush their life. Do you, are you ever, like, because, you know, Koubo D has never had a hit record since you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, that's all, why, why, why y' y'all, why y' y'all, girl. Man, listen, man.

That's about his decisions. You got to make your own decisions. He got to make decisions. Decisions, yo, you get to the crossroads. You got to pick right or left. Elle, you crush these people career. Can you say something nice for them? No, no, not nice.

Not nice. But say something the reason why, because. Oh, why did I do what I did? Because when Cummody came out. Very simple. Yeah, please. Very simple. Bottom of Pumdee.

I'm making it very easy for you. My thing is this, you know. This was my feeling. My feeling is, you know, I have a fan base. I have people that, you know, look to me and enjoy my music and celebrate my art. If you come out talking about, you know, me in a foul way and trying to undermine me, you're trying to get in my pocket and you're stepping on my toes and you're in the way. And I got to get you out of the way immediately.

And that was my thinking on it. And mama said not you go out. At a minimum. At a minimum. At a minimum. Yo, listen, listen. Mix your noise with out. Oh, that's a damn it.

I'm sorry. Continue your story. I'm so sorry. That was it. That was it. But cannabis, I just felt like... You're staying on. No, because, you know what?

I know what? I know this is my nephew. You gotta relax. Why are you tapping me? I want to ask him some. Go ahead, ask him some. What's up? I heard you got to fight a song with Jamie Fox, something like that.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Any given Sunday. I've seen that. I've seen that movie yesterday. Oh, that's right. I don't know why. This is why God is good. All the time.

I'm like, I can't sleep because you know why? I still up. Listen. Them petty pills. Petty. Just keep you up. Yeah, we're up to listen. Petty.

I'm petty. I'm petty. I can't sleep. I'm petty. I can't sleep. This record has got a more meaning. Oh, yeah, real petty. Let me tell you.

Let me tell you. Listen, whenever I'm, I interview a artist, I want to give them the most respect ever. Amen. Because hip hop should be a celebration. I sat down with Leo Combs the other day and he said, the reason why you're winning?

Because hip hop is a celebration. This is going to be in an absolute. And you are actually celebrating it. It's a war of attrition. So I'm looking. I'm looking, right? And then any other Sunday is on my TV.

So I look at it. And then, mind you, I forgot I had did like two or three songs for her. So I was like, oh, my vision was popping. Business. But then I'm looking, and I'm like, damn. And then when you and Jamie Fox actually interacted, and me hearing the rumors, I'm actually looking at it like, this is great cinema.

This is really great cinema. Like, this is actually. Now, I'll tell you what happened. Please tell us what happened. We don't know. What really happened, you know, the real story is that I, you know, when we were doing the scene, you know, I think, you know, Jamie, although he was experienced to somewhat, he was still a little green. I wasn't quite as green, but I was green too. And, you know, you don't mean an experience, you know what I'm saying?

So we were doing the scene, I was being aggressive. And I was like, yo, you got, but this is character to character. I'm like, yo, you got to, you know, and I'm like. What scene that we talk about? We were talking about the scene on the sidelines where he didn't give me the ball. And you pushed him? Something like that. After the huddle.

Yeah. And I'm like, yo, you got to, and I'm slapping the shoulders and this and that. No, you know. You went like that. But yeah, okay. But he's got equipment on, right? I mean, it's not like, you know, we're not in the pool and shit. I'm sorry yesterday, Al.

You know, he's got equipment on. So you know, yo, yo, yo, yo. So he got upset and he's like, yo, you know, stop being so rough with me. So I was like, you know, you know, I was, you know, you know, I was. You know, that didn't compute. So we... Farmers Boulevard came out? No, no, no.

No. No. Let him farm's Buluwa. Tell me when Farmus Buluwa came out. So we did another take. Okay. And I was rough with him again. And then, you know, I don't know why, but, you know, he thought it was a good idea to punch me in my face.

Not in the script. No, it wasn't the script. No. No, this wasn't scripted. Wait, wait, wait. No, no, no. And I'm keeping a hundred with you. You want me to keep it on it?

All right. I'm going to shut up. He punched me in my face. So I looked at him after he punched me. face, I said, why did you do that? What, tell him. You looked at it up? Yeah, yeah. He punched me in the face and I looked at him. I said, why'd you do that?

Act it out. Acted out. Acted out. So I said, I feel like that one like that. Like that. But not quite. I was a little tight for night. I was a little tight.

I was tight. I was giving them tight. I was tight. So I was like, looked at him. I said, why did you do that? And he said, look. And he like was turned to the side. He was square.

He had his helmet on. He had his helmet on. He was turned to the side. He said, I told you before, don't put your hands on me. Period. So, my left hand grabbed the face mask, and as I was pulling his helmet off, my right hand was punching his chin. He don't bomb him. And I was like, I thought he was faking because he was asleep. The whole team jumped on me, right? So they wrestled me down. You know, the whole team. You know, to break it up.

To break it up. So I'm under the huddle and I'm like, yeah, yeah. And then somebody tries to reach in and like give me a little eye gow. Somebody did that, right? So, oh, yeah, that was a, but not a good idea because I turned my head to the side and went, oh, you caught his, caught his head in his, he's like, and he was, oh! See, that's the thing with the whole MMA thing, dude speaking, yeah, you're going to get me in a leg, I'm biting your esophagus on.

Like all that leg lock shit, I'm going to bite your throat off, me. Like, we got to get it in. Like, this ain't, the rules is out. So I heard to the side. And he pulled his hand out the thing. And then they finally broke it up. And then, but, but since then me and Jamie got cool, and we have laughed about it. I heard that.

I heard that. We have laughed about it. We made songs together. Like, we're cool. So I don't mind telling the story now. But, you know, what it is is just, you know, but, you know, Oliver is crazy. Oliver Stone. He had us.

Yeah, he was the director. That's actually the guy that's actually the sports announcer in any given Sunday. He's actually the guy that's in there. And I'm looking at. He's like, he's who wrote Scarface. Scarface, yeah. He wrote Scarface. Yeah, he's a cartoon, you know.

Yeah, he's his legend. He's amazing. So, you know, it was just a funny time, you know what I'm saying? But, you know, that was the thing. You know, it's just, you know, Jamie, you know, he just got off. You know, he was on his Willie Beaming and I couldn't take it and all that, you know. You know, you know, because, you know, you know, in under the right circumstances, You might let a punch slide.

You might. Right. I mean, you know, it's not impossible. Now, everybody's not a straight murderer all the time. Dude hits you under the right circumstances. You would have said to me, like, you know, you know, I just, and I'd have been like, you know, I don't even know if I could have took it, then. I take that back.

Yeah, yeah, I could have took it. I couldn't handle that shit. I could handle it. You would have drove me insane. I would have been waking up in the middle of the night just like he played me. Like, I just couldn't take it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So, because you even beat

niggas up who broke it in your house. The niggas that broke in your house, you pounded them out. Yeah, I don't want to, that's a rough one, no. See, because the difference with that is that that wasn't funny because I was terrified. Oh, where, what happened? Of course. I mean, listen, man, if it's one in the morning, you know,

and you come down from you. And this is Cali. Why has people- I got to tell you, your segues on the questions, you're very smooth. And it's very effective. It's a very smooth and subtle. It's a nice thing you do it,

because you hook a scene, you get it nice, you bait it, you set it, out, you tee it up, and the next thing you know people are talking. That's pretty good. That's good. That's good. It's good. You could have been an attorney.

That's good. That's good. That was good. I'm so sorry. It's very smooth. I'm so sorry. It was amazing. It was wonderful to watch, you know what I mean?

You could ask you anything like that. Oh, it was crazy. That was a lazy. Now, when a dude broke in my house, the difference is that, you know, I had fights growing up. I have fights growing up and we've all, all of us. I'm sure everybody in this room have fights in the hood

and different things, you scraps or whatever. But how many of us have really fought for our lives? Maybe dudes in jail you might get that feeling, you know, you did a big, you feel like you're fighting for your life. Fighting for your life doesn't, it's not the same funny feeling like fighting, like in the hood, just, you know,

let's get it, let's get it. You know, I'm like, you know, I'm really scared. This is for keeps. You know, I'm gonna get it in, like, whatever it takes. And I only read it on Team So I have no idea. And so it was one in the morning. And, you know, the alarm pad went off.

But it's, you know how you have an alarm? And, like, for those of who have an alarm, it'll give you a minute to put your code in. It'll go, e-e-and you have to turn your alarm off. Well, mine just went, e-e-and-sohn's. And so I went to the keypad, Simone's sleep. And I'm looking at the keypad. I'm like, um, family room. And she said, family room, wasn't it?

And I'm thinking. Wait, so you mean it when it when it's telling you where. Where the default is, the default. I think that's the word. So, you know, I'm in my drawers this morning in the morning. So I just say, you know what? I'm thinking it's like my daughter sneaking in, you know, maybe. I don't know.

She's coming in late. I'm like, oh, don, da-d-d-dun. I'm going to go down here and see what's happening. So I'm just walking downstairs. Got my drawers. I turned the alarm off, walk downstairs. Come down. And when I was going towards the kitchen, he's coming out of the kitchen.

And then we face to face. and he's got all black on he's got a big bag he's got the man the lawn manson bed boots you know and he's looking at huh is he black no he's a white he's a white dude oh you you pounding him out immediately oh god let's go there oh god I mean you know

terrified you see Rick Rubin but it wasn't it Rick Rubin it was freaky I think you know stupid mother stupid mother stupid mother stupid mother stupid mother stupid mother stupid mother stupid mother That's only you're a stupid mother, stupid mother. You know, everything you get, every stupid mother you can ever heard on everywhere. And I was like, you know, and then I got him down. And then it took the police about, wait, about you skipped.

Yeah, you got them down. No, I don't want to, uh, yeah. But how to, because, Al, we, we scared at all. We tried to rock for a minute. And you know, you hit him with that cross fit. And when you got your drawers on, that's some real, like, that's some real gorilla like to get him. Yeah, I feel like for the old school dudes, I feel like Pennateek, get them, you know, I have my drugs on this shit, you know, no socks. It's like, mess.

It's like, mess. So mind you, you're walking downstairs. You don't know you. Of course not. In my house. You think you, all right. Yo, you and your drawers in your house, I don't care, you and your drawers in your house going to get some juice, drinking out of the juice bottle that nobody knows you drink out of. And the same one you give to all your guests.

And I just went down and then Holmes came out of nowhere. And it was just like, you know, it was tiring. He was like, eh. And I was like, oh! And it just, you know, we just had to rock. Like, no. And then, you know, I'll tell you the deepest thing, though, you know, this is the part that's not fun, even is that there was a point when I had to decide whether

or not he should stay alive. You mean between you and him? No, when I had him subdued. because I didn't know if he had anyone else with him. Subdued. When I had him, when I had control of the situation, when I had him on the ground, on his back, no, on his stomach, finished and, you know, laying there,

I had to make that decision because I didn't know if he had someone upstairs, you know, I didn't know if people were coming from, so I had to think, I didn't have rope available. Like, I'm not planning, like, you know, L.L. Manson, like, I don't have rope around the house. just in case I have to tire somebody. You know, I... So I'm like, looking at the dude,

and I had to make a decision, you know, and I credit Simone, because she's like, Todd, just wait the guy. She's calling the cops. She got on the 911. And then I saw my daughter come down the steps, and she's like, what's going to? She's like, with the drawers on.

I'm like, this is freaky. And my youngest daughter slept through the whole thing. She had a playmate. She had a playmate, a play date. And she had, you know, somebody over the house. They slept through the whole thing. And then her parents was the interesting thing. Her parents called the next, like that morning when we woke up.

They was like, oh, you know, yeah, yeah. She can stay. You know, it's no problem. Like, if that was my daughter, I'm like, I'm so kidding. You're letting your daughter stay. I'm getting to truth. I just, oh, no, she's safe. She's fine.

I'm like, yo, they must be having a really good time. Whatever they're doing? They got some really big rings. You know, there's a really big thing. Okay. So, so before was it? Because people were telling me you got to leave. And I got to respect you because I really love you.

But before we get up out of here, I need to know about raised out. She was raised. Represent Queen. She was raised out of Brooklyn. She was raised in Brooklyn. She was representing Queen. I represent Queen. I represent Queen.

I represent Queen. I just need you to break that down. I represent Queens. Because Angie Martinez forever thought it was about her. They're serious. Not saying the record was about her. I'm saying she represented that record. Oh, okay.

I'm like, oh, yeah. No, no, not saying that. That goddamn Angie Monti, let me get this. I'm so sorry. Then I'm like, oh, then I'm like, it's the first time to get it. Totally setting up that. It's my first time with Angie.

You don't feel like that or her. Yeah, what happened to a light. It didn't, I didn't mean like that, but I meant like, because she was. Oh yeah, yeah, no, it was just a record. Like, you know, that was a, um, it was what it was, you know? It was funny because, you know, that was a beat

that Rashad had let me hear. This lights are blinking. lights are blinking. Don't worry about it. Oh, I thought it was the rose. That's my voice. That's the rosade. We're going to text.

You know, I just, that beat, you know, Puffy actually had wanted that beat for Biggie. And, you know, he called me up, I want my beat back. It's like, eh, not so much. Not so much.

And, um, nah, but, you know, Puffs, my man. And Big understood, you know what I'm saying? It was mine. It was what it was. It was just like, you know, you know how producers, they play everybody.

beats and Biggie, you know, he really, you know, God bless him. He rest of peace, was talented artists. Yeah. He really had his heart set on that one, you know, but, you know, that's how I went. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests.

I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so, wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough because people scoreboard watch life becomes about wins and losses Steve Burns Dustin Ross because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth or are you a good person because you're afraid because that's two different intentions bro absolutely and that that's two different levels of trust I want you to just really be a good person join me Keer games is we have real conversation

about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across.

When Jacob met Levant this plant to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them?

On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going. from the WMBA standout Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you,

but don't ever feel like you don't belong. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladecki. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. at our level at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything.

I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. call it grotesque, others say it's

unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Who's your favorite producer? Producer? Yeah. Look at Al-I'll get in a studio or what is. I mean, there's some amazing producers out there, man. It would be, I mean...

Give me one. I don't even want to say, man. All, give me two. I don't even want to say, but, yo, it's some crazy producers out there. Give me three. Give me the top three producers. Some top three? Yeah. Oh, top three. Okay.

I think, uh, I think Dre is serious. I agree. I think, um, I think Timberland is serious. Mm. And, uh... Didn't expect that one. Um, you know, it's been a while, but, you know, Molly was really, really serious, you know what I mean?

And Primo, in Primo, you know, Primo's serious too, yeah. I really, I really wanted you to say Molly, Ma. Oh, of course. I really did. Like, yo, listen, man, I, you know, I love all of these dudes, man. They're all good. Go. My son is scared to walk through.

What's up, man? Yeah, give me five. Give him five. What's up? Give him five. Being good? And you're on Revolt TV. God damn.

All right. because this is because you know your people is telling me you got to go and I got to respect your people yeah yeah yeah so and you know what because I respect you because if it wasn't for you

in a lot of ways it wouldn't be me and I always respect I respect you too but I have to ask because I feel like you brought this to hip hop greatest of all time that phrase came from LPJ

you know I got it I got it from Ali, you know what I'm saying? Damn, we didn't know that. You know, Ali, you know what I was saying? The greatest all the time, but I made it to go. You know what I'm saying? Is all the greatest goal all time? I think I probably have one of the greatest careers.

You know, I think that on any given day, somebody can make a better song, but it's really about a career. And it's about... So can I floss for you? Yeah. You are the greatest all-time, motherfucker. I feel like you're trying to be humble.

I appreciate it. I feel like You're being too humble A lot of times You got to remember that You know I don't know You know

If I got pop When Mama said knock you out Came out Maybe people would feel Different about me You gotta relax Because you won that You won that

You won that I'm saying Like if something had If I was You know Got shot Or was finished out Or got done

If you got shot If somebody did Let's not wish that No I never I don't receive that at all God knows I don't know I'm saying like

Oh if Rakim would have Would have What I'm basically saying is that that there is something magical that happens with great artists when they're not here. And they get, you know, looked at people grow to appreciate them.

But it's magical happening with you right now while you being doing TV. I'm blessed. It's magical. So just in case you don't know, lip sync battle, we are all sitting back. And it's for hip hop.

Like everything I do, all the moves I make, you know what I'm saying? I'm really, no question. That's what I'm here. You didn't have to be here. But I wanted to be here And you came here because it's hot

Because you fucking hip hop And you. And you fucking hip hop You know what I'm saying? Thank you Al But I just want you to know That if you never heard it before Even though you've won this

phrase to hip hop You are the greatest All the time Thank you I appreciate it And what's really amazing I am I am I'm truly I am There's a lot of people

We say greatest all time Rest of peace That's true That's true I'd rather be I'd much rather be alive In debating it Yeah.

How about that one? We said the greatest all... I'd rather be alive and debating, baby, baby. You know? We're saying the greatest all the time. And you're alive, hell! This is how you know if she's real. My Rolex came before.

It's time. That means it's time. Yeah, it's time. But listen, Al, we really appreciate you, Al. I know you got to go. We know you on a schedule. We understand everything you do. This is what we do.

Our culture, our society, Excuse me, everybody up there, be quiet. Our society is about giving our legends flowers when they can smell them and giving them trees when they can inhale them. And because, you know why, our culture, when you get to 30 years, you get to 40 years, you get to 45 or 50 years, they ride us off. But meanwhile, Motley crew is out there touring. Meanwhile, fucking Rolling Stones.

And I don't got no beef with them. I don't get a fuck about them. I'm all right myself. I understand. But I want to continue to support our. culture. And, you know, also what would help that, I think, is, you know,

if the veteran artists make better decisions and if they value themselves. Meaning. Because, you know, I am humble, that's true, but I do know my value. No, we know you know you. And I understand who I am. Yes. I'm clear about that. Yes, you do. And, you know, my business decisions and the moves that I make

reflect that. Yes. And, you know, I think a lot of our artists, you know, they forget who they are. And they, you know, you know, They think that it's about your last hot record, but it's not. It's more than that. It's more than just the hot record. It's not about just your last record. Everybody be quiet, because I ain't going to lie.

I need to hear this. You know, it's not, it's about your career. It's about, you know, that's one of the things Russell taught me earlier. It's about having a career. You know, I could go out and play, you know, and have 50, 60, 70,000 people out there. I can go out there and, you know, do festivals. I can go do different things. And I think that, you know, our veterans sometimes they forget that.

Right. They forget who they are. They get lost. They get discouraged because they make it about the radio. They make it about only 14-year-olds. They make it about... But you can't live without your radio. Yeah, yeah.

Well, I got a television now. Oh. And, you know, killed him. I didn't beat you in the battle. He'd destroyed me in the battle. You know? So I just, you know, I just think we just have to know who we are. We got to believe in ourselves.

You know, I would, what I would say to all of you is that you got to remember that dreams don't have deadlines. And you got to remember never to limit yourself. You know, Colonel Sanders started Kentucky Fried Chicken at 65 years old. There are no limits on this thing. You can be successful as long as you want to be successful. You know, Michael Jackson had, he made rest in peace, had hot records. He had a solo world tour coming.

50 years old when he passed. Don't, you know, overestimate the gift of youth and underestimate the gift of experience. You know what I'm saying? Because you know, and like I say

to all the artists out there, like there's a lot of a lot of people found out when they put their records on SoundCloud that is not as easy to make hot shit as you thought, huh? With four views. How you like them four or five views? How's that working for you? Remember when you were critiquing my album?

The one you said was trash. You know? You got seven views. It was trash because it only went gold. Remember that? How don't four views feel right now? You know what I mean? So, you know, can you lead the pretty gang with me?

I'm with you. I'm not. Because, you know, because what happened was, it's like they threw the, it's like if, if, if, if, one thing I will say about hip-hop is a funny, just a sideball. If hip-hop was the NBA. It's like they took the ball and threw it to the stance. It's like the mic, like we just said, hey, they just threw the audience in the crowd and said, y'all do it.

So now everybody's, you know, because for every chance to rapper who is truly talented and amazing. Yes. For everyone of them, there's a thousand of them that didn't do it. So what am I saying? Basically what I'm saying is there is some skill involved with this. And it does take talent. And it isn't luck. We all need a little bit of luck sprinkled in our lives.

Of course. But the guys who made it yourself, some of the other artists you name, some of these guys, your favorite rappers and artists, they are talented. Right. And, you know, so what the Internet has showed us is it's giving us the opportunity to find out that, guess what? Rappers really are talented. These guys really have talent and they really are artists. Because if that wasn't true, then everybody would be on. Would be on.

If they're not. Yeah, there's a few hit, one hit wonders here and there. But this thing takes talent. Right. You know, so, you know, I think that that's just something that, and those old school guys out there, they need to just make better decisions and remember that they're talented and not be, not be overwhelmed by this idea that you're obsolete and irrelevant. This is not, you know, when you're 35 years old, you don't need to keep going back to your prom, you know? You don't have to live life like you're going back to the prom. I'm 39, yeah.

Exactly. I'll be 40 this year. Young. Young, relative. I'm doing three parties. LA, New York, and Miami. I love it. Can I have you a part of one of them?

I don't know. I don't know why I threw that in there. I don't know what happened. I'm trying to promote. That's what you do. That's what you do. I mean, how you think we got here? You're unbelievable.

Let me tell you something. I mean, really look around at the life you've created. Like, really look at this. Like, this is unbelievable. You're amazing. I love you, Al. Let me tell you something. Al, I love you.

Where's Capone? You know, listen. I'm going to snuff him soon as he pull up. Because he told me. me he was supposed to be here because listen listen listen I don't I don't invite him to podcast but went out hell this important oh man I want to say he hit me you know I lie because I'll come from bye later so I lied to them oh yeah yeah yeah yeah you told him 12 I know I had you locked in 2 30 but I told him 12 of course of course

you did because I come from Chris Lighty school I know you tell him two hours in the We can't fall asleep in a getaway car, though. You know, people fall asleep in the getaway car. It's like, take the bucket of chicken off your lap and get out the car, please. It's like, you know, you got to be on time. That's another thing. I'll be on time. You got to be on time.

Can we teach the youth about being on time? Because let me tell you something. Just now, recently, I've been, you know, doing what I got to do. So Lear hits me. And Lear goes, I need to meet you at the polo lounge. Right? This is in. This is why he laughing.

No, because I know it's loaded. His scheme is already set. It's like, I need to meet you at the polo. I have a blanket. It's like all of this shit. It's like all that thing. Me, Ali, Randy Acker, we set it all up. But me and Ali is only there.

So we pull up at 745. Lear's already there. But he told us to me this at 8 o'clock. But this is what I'm trying to tell young people is be on turn. He told me to meet him at 8 o'clock. We pulled up at 7.45 and he was already ready. There you go.

He's sitting there like this. Let's go. And I'm like, holy shit. Because he wanted to have the best chair in the meeting and all like. Did I say that all right? Did I see it all right? What do you know he did you want to do? Do I say that?

You know, listen. So this is what I'm trying to tell young people. Yeah, just showing against the wall at the table. Because you're not supposed to show up at 8.15 when it's 8 o'clock meeting. You're supposed to show up at 745 and scope out the joint. And also, I would also say this. I would say that, you know, the cockiness is great for the records. Yes.

If I make a record... When it comes to business? If I make a record tomorrow, it's going to be the cockiest thing you've ever heard in your life. Right. But in between, it's okay to be humble. No, I'm humble. Humility. Humility is okay.

I didn't say... Sudo. I didn't say pseudo. I don't know what pseudo means. Yeah, you know, I'm retarded. I'm from third grade. Yeah, I'm fourth, but, you know, I studied the dictionary. False, like fake humility, like, you know, Fugazi. You know what I think?

You know, but just be humble, you know what I'm saying? And, you know, people want to help you then, you know, you ain't got to be, you know, all at all the time. You know, leave it on the records, leave it on your music, leave it on stage. But other than that, just be you, you know what I'm saying? and I think you get a lot further in your career.

Okay, before we get about here because I know you got to go. Yeah, because Claude is over there. I know you got to go. But you actually have, it's not just lip sync battle, it's not just, you know, you playing these other,

you actually have a production. Describe to these young black kids that you could actually help people out. Well, I co-produced the Grammy nomination show for about five years. I'm a, um, I'm a producer on lip-sync battle as well. Did you know how lightly he said that?

You know what I'm saying? I think we should make noise for that. If somebody has, you know, if somebody has, you know, TV ideas or ideas that I think are worthy, I'm not going to like everything. And if I don't like it, if I don't like it, I'm going to tell the person. Should we send him to Claudine? Yeah, something like that. You know, we got to be easy.

It's a million people over here. No, Clark, let me just tell you something. One thing for sure, to anything but certain. When Violator dispersed. Yeah. It was probably the saddest day of my life. It was crazy. Because I didn't know anything other than Chris Lighty.

I didn't know other things other than Claudine, Laurie Dublins, and so on and so forth. Mona Scott. Yeah, yeah. I understand. So when Chris went away, it was probably the saddest day of my life. I feel you. because I just didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to do.

I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to do. I called Buster and Buster was lost. No, he didn't have another. He was with James at that time. He was with James. At that time for a minute. But it was like another management.

It wasn't like James was violated at that time. And I was just lost. Like, I'm just now finding myself. Me, personally. Me personally. And one of the very first person's people, I'm sorry, I said person, I'm like dyslexic. It's all good.

It's Claudine. And I said, Claudiane was, she has never, ever made me question her. She has never ever done anything. And the fact that Claudine is with you, it lets me know that you really living out violated. And I love you, my brother. I love you, I love that woman. I love that woman. I love, like, Claudine, I love Claudine.

Like, you don't understand. And she asked, she said, yo, I want to meet your wife. And I made sure my wife came just to meet Claudine because she means so much to my life. Like, I'm going to be honest with you. And I went and looked for her. And when I said, damn, she went out. I can't afford her.

I don't pay it enough. I'm fucked up. I fucked up. I should have came last here. I can't do it. It was 7.45. I was already there. I'm like,

I'm like, but I can't thank you enough because you know what at everything that's what we owe Chris Liding We owe Chris Lyddy to keep his legacy going First of all First of all I, you know

I owe Chris on so many levels I mean my Mr. Smith album Him connecting me with the trackmasters We did that whole doing it record You talked about Chris was involved with that Chris was down with me when we did that song You know Chris She was a reason queen

She was raised out in Brooklyn I still don't know this bitch. I got a meet her. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, well, you know. Yeah, well, you know. You gotta relax. But, yeah, Chris was, he was a special guy, and, you know, he's definitely be sorely missed.

And I try to pay it forward by, you know, looking out for Tiffany, you know, when she's in L.A., she stays with me, you know, making sure that she's good. Can L.L. Norrie and Buster created a new violator? Yeah. And because you know, Al, let me just tell you something, Al. And I'm sorry, this is going to get very touchy, not for you, not for anybody here. But the other day, DMX performed, right? Where in the Barclay Center? Okay.

The whole hip hop said, ah, DMX don't look good. You know, he looks like he's smoking, whatever, whatever. But isn't it hip-hop's responsibility? to say that this man gave us 10 million records this man gave us such and such why don't we just come take him and put him in the rehab or put him into whatever he needs to do

to be safe but you know what hip hop don't have a union to do that Al is great Norrie's great EFN is great Rich Blanco is great Randy Acker's great shouldn't we give 1% of something so that if anything like this happens

Like Chris Lighty Passing, Tiffany don't have to worry. Like DMX, you know, have to go into rehab. We can take care of that. I feel like hip-hop owes hip-hop that. Am I bugging now? No, you're not bugging. You know, but that's a very complicated thing. You know, I mean, you know, what you're talking about, I mean, you know, sons can't.

Sag. I know what I understand sons can't get their mothers off drugs, man. You know, that's a tough one. No. I understand what you're saying. But in terms of unionizing hip hop and, you know, it's something to think about. Strong management can, you know, can create that kind of a vibe. Right.

It's not, no, it's nothing right. Look, the laborers, look, the people, the guys on the ground floor, the guys who had three, four songs, the guys who, you know, it would be great if they had medical. Not three or four songs. Come on, Al. We took my better. No, no. No, no. But three or four songs.

Look, Rob bass and DJ Easy Rock don't deserve to be... They had three, four songs. They had albums, but I'm to my hits. They're the first one. When I say songs, I just mean hits. I don't mean like, I'm bad. I'm bad. I think, yeah, I don't think it's nothing wrong.

I think that's a good idea. But you think people who gave... It takes a lot of time and a lot of commitment. There's real, there's, you know, you have to be real about things like that. But if you gave 10 years of hip hop, right? Right. You dedicated to hip hop. Now, you...

You've developed. You develop up. some type of disease. It only take 40,000 to get rid of your disease. And there's people like us who have it. I give a band, you'll give a band, JZ give a band, whatever.

Sitting that person's, you know. I would always be willing to contribute to something like that. As long as I know dudes ain't, you know. No, no, no. It's transparent. Tinging it and buying, you know. It's transparent.

Getting low profile ties with my band. I'm a big account like this. Got them new Pirelli's. Got down. I'll be able to count like that. Look, look. I'll be in coming like that. Yeah, exactly.

Yeah. It's transparent. We got to be because. It's transparent. Yes. Because you know why? Because the thing is I don't want to give a extra $5,000 that I don't want to. I would totally, I would have no problem with, you know, look, you're not going to be successful.

If you don't give. Right. Period. Anyway. That's just part of it. You know, that comes with territory. So if you think you're going to be able to be a selfish prick and be successful, it's not going to happen. You're going to be.

Because the people that are successful are successful because of the things they do right. And the parts of their life where they fail, they're unsuccessful because of the things they do incorrectly. And so, you know, because a lot of times people think a evil guy is successful because he's evil. No, he's successful because he's doing something right. He also will reap the rewards of being evil in another area. So don't confuse it. People are successful because of what they do right. Period.

Damn, I ain't got no more question. And they lose because of what they do wrong. You know what I mean? It's like sports. You win because of what you did right. All right. But there'll be repercussions for the other shit. But there's repercussions for other things.

Flagrants. You know, whatever. You know, turn over. You know, turn over. Like, so, you know, it's consequences. Elle, you're mad smart. I just got to make a noise for you being mad smart. But I don't know.

Let me get out of here. picture and one to drop. Peace of love, y'all. You need any champagne to gold? No, no, I'm good. I got you. Whatever you do. I'm gravy.

No, hell, thank you. Yo, thank you. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group?

perform. We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Wife is full of hurdles. So how do you keep going? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we're talking with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness from professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions about the challenges that shape them and the mindset that keeps them moving forward. At our level, at this scale, being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kier Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor. It signals to the world that you not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen and learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on. A Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jewelry. just a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the I-Heart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.